The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-16
DYING OF HUNGER AT 1O2.
MRS HUGHES AND HER NIECE FOUND
As THBY WE'RE STARVING.

Unable ANY Lerrer 70 work. They Settle
Down - Dis-stin Alive In Rags and
Geld when Founa by the Feiiee.
Word was sent to the Mulberry street
police station last night OF case Of restitution
at 10 Spring street. An investigation resulted
In the discovery Of one OF the most poverty
stricken households on record.
Mrs. Ann Hughes, nearly 103 years old, Is
dying ut the above number. where abe lives
with her niece. Mrs. Catharine McAndrews,
who is 90 years old. During the past three
weeks the pangs Of hunger have been suffered
by both women, and the centenarian has been
slowly starving to death.
The old woman's story Is that she was born
In county Galway, Ireland in 1856. She will be
102 years old on April 10 Of next year. She was
the widow Of O tailor named Conkling when
she came to this country in 1880. She had four
children, all OF whom died In ireland. She was
married second time here to William Hughes.
who was waiter in restaurant He WAS
much younger than she, and he died twenty
three years ago In Bellevue Hospital Of con-
sumption. Mrs. Hughes. when she came here
from Ireland. made her living by cooking In
eating houses. She was cook for several
years In the old Tontine coffee house.
The niece came to this country when she was
ten years old. and grew mp under the care Of
feeble she was taken care OF by the niece. who
had married and been deserted.
Mrs. Hughes was able to- work until about
SUPPORTED f b. her her niece who did washing and
scrpbbing. The latter has lately been falling
4 6ss T. 1 NsI uRsb S e TSsy 1sa A
Sss ss Board Of Heah cleared them
month aEo. because the place was unit Tor
pt TRey u moved e H. to the rear tenement at 10
ws os s moaS TSs ss
ps s saa lT eno ssas
when he she was unab 70 get Work
Since then they have been literally starving.
P hs tss ecs nt xas p j. n make ys
apSe Of s2.y0 on the rent for last month. -.
woman cup. Of tea now and then All Of last
sSs u .ys aoss
i, in water and gave II, to the old woman:
they coyered their bodies with rags to keep p
tbs WaS two s
were purchased. The, supply lasted the hun
Fly women only for the day and 81 since nc then
them with dispossess warrant They were
10 Do put out CO.mOTTOW.
hecouple occupy three rooms, none ofthem
larger than a good.sized closet In the front
room was an old stove set mp in bricks. The
pipe connections were Of several different
sizes: small table. two dilapidated chairs. q
broken,down bureau and q soap box com.
for Mrs. McAndrewe. Several broken dishes
and few crusts OF bread were on the table.
The woman wore scanty worn-out garments
The two other rooms were occupied as bed
rooms. The beds were composed Of boxes
with rags thrown over them. Everything was
In q most filthy state.
In a mass Of rags thrown on top Of one box
piece Of dirty rag carpet. She was shvering
from the cold. Her weak condition was evident
when she tried to speak. She managed to say
that she was chilly and that she had been hum
CRY. but she did not feel It any moro.
The woman was evidently dying. Her ap-
pearance indicates that in her young days she
must have been powerful and well built wo-
man. Her hair Is snow white. and her face Is
shrtvelled up. About dollar was left in the
house last utGht BY two visitors. Unless the
rent Is paid the unfortunate couple will be dis
possessed tomorrow.